While watching the movie, “Kangaroo Jack” (Castle Rock Entertainment, 2003) on DVD in September, 2006, (yeah, I forgot to blog about this until now!), I was reminded of friends of mine who I believe deserve some public recognition.
My first friend who I wish to introduce is Wayne Stiles II. I have known Wayne since my senior year of high school. I first met him during the summer after high school graduation when we met on the 23-acre campus of Dallas Christian College (DCC) for SALTeens*, a program targeted toward high schoolers to introduce them to DCC. The program takes musically- and vocally-talented high schoolers from all over the country, trains them to perform a drama/musical piece which they rehearse for a week and tour and perform the following week. Wayne played guitar (VERY WELL, despite his claim of “average” in this Website!) and I was one of the vocals in the choral section.
I met my second friend, Greg Faure’, during my freshman year at DCC and we became fast friends. We studied and wrote reports and speeches together.
After I left college, life and time separated me from my friends. I went off and joined a religious cult (ICOC) and got way off base. And all the while, Wayne and Greg were praying for me!
When I returned from my wayward wandering, both brothers (separately, of course!) greeted me back with open arms, much like that of the father of the prodigal son. Despite my wicked past, they both STILL loved me!
After leaving the ICOC, I began working closely with my alma mater, DCC, and their alumni association. In doing so, I also got acquainted with some of the student body, where I met an amazing and bright freshman named Stephen Myrshrall. At first, I was a little cautious due to his Baptist upbringing (I was raised non-denominational New Testament Christian [AKA instrumental Church of Christ]), but his love for God, Scriptures, and warmth he exuded toward me and his friends was overwhelming. He was very instrumental in my healing from the scars of the ICOC and soon introduced me to a local congregation with a Baptist heritage.
The next few friends are from my new church. When I first began visiting, I wasn’t looking for a church home (I already was serving as a youth leader at another congregation), but the loving warmth and community was intoxicating. It was then that I met Brandon Jung, one of the Welcome ushers. His demeanor was sincere, warm, and welcoming. It was his continued friendship which later led to his encouraging me to join the Home Group he was attending.
My next friend is Scott “Hungry Jack” Ayers, our current Home Group leader and my accountability partner. Scott has only been a Home Group leader only a few months but has done an excellent job doing so. His love for His God and His Scriptures seems inexhaustible. The time we spend together twice a month in accountability has also become instrumental in my healing, as I now know what unconditional accountability truly means.
Shortly after Scott began leading, Phillip Bleecker began attending our Home Group. At first, our relationship was challenging because of my own stubbornness and pride, but eventually, we have become good friends. Phillip has this quality of warmth unlike anyone I have met before. He will tell you the truth without apology.
Then there is Marq Sanchez. From the first time we met, he joined out Home Group and became a fast, good friend. He is gentle, kind, loving and honest.
As I wrote this blog, so many other friends came to mind (I had to re-write this again!) and thus, so many more could be mentioned. Overall, God has expressed His love and grace to me through so many of my friends who have made themselves transparent, vulnerable and available to me. It is SO good to have such a loving and warm family of God surrounding me!
*Note: The letters “SALT” in SALTeens stand for Singing And Living Truth.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
2006 in Retrospect
As I look back over 2006, I have many things with which to be thankful. In January, I began attending and joined my present Home Group, presently led by Scott “Hungry Jack” Ayers (after a lengthy interview with Brandon Jung at the New Years Eve party, where I met other Home Group members, Marshall Embry, Bryan Adams, and Corey Long). In March, I became a covenant member of my present place of worship and became active in serving in the Welcome and New Members’ Class ministries. The Lord led me to begin accountability relationships with Brandon, then Scott (after Brandon moved to Chicago) and close friendships with Brandon, Scott, Kate Shackelford (Brandon’s girlfriend) and Phillip Bleecker. In December, I began receiving counseling from C3: The Center for Christian Counseling. And, last but certainly not least, one of my dearest and good friends, Wayne Stiles, began his own Website, blog and podcast (see links to those on the left!) and I am absolutely thrilled to death about the possibilities of what God has in store for him through those communicative tools! All in all, it has been a good year.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
OUR Heroes Who Live Among Us
Since 9/11, there have been television shows ("Heroes", "24", "Kyle XY", "Numb3rs") and movies ("X-Men", "X-Men: United", "X-Men: The Last Stand", "Superman Returns", "Batman Begins") about heroism. It seems that lately, a hero has been redefined by the entertainment media as someone who possesses special powers, received genetically or through evolution. I would like to propose that we are surrounded by heroes every day, not confined within the pages of a comic book or captured on celluloid. Here is a true story of such heroes which have appeared in my life. Since I haven't asked their permission to use their names, I have purposely withheld personal pronouns to protect their secret identity in the following narrative:
OUR heroes are closer than you think!
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 27, 2006)
Well, it had been another typical holiday at my parents': miscommunications, raw emotions, yelling, tempers flared and lost, crying and an overwhelming urge to leave and return to Plano after having only been there 24 hours! Unfortunately, it was no different from previous holidays and other visits spent with them. Let me explain: I don't know the exact reasons why but my parents seem to seldom get along. Yeah, they love each other (or, at least, I think or want to continue believing so), but, for as long as I can remember, there have been less peaceful times than argumentative war zones since my childhood when my mother and stepfather married in 1971 (?). I know and theorise that some of the crises result from my stepfather's own upbringing and his hearing loss which occurred during his early childhood. I also theorise that my mother's own emotion-driven reactions to my stepfather's foibles don't help matters either. Thus, the war zone exists. I can only assume it resumes in my absence with few if any peace talks and fewer (if any) cease fires. While attempting in my own way to deal with the loneliness I had while in school (except for my best friend, Marvin), I also had the war zone and subsequent minefields to traverse when at home. My only recourse was shutting away myself in my room and bury myself in books, textbooks and homework, hoping for the one day when I would be away at college and life on my own. I sometimes wondered if I was somehow responsible, if my not being my stepfather's biological son was the source of attention (there were many times in which I also reacted emotionally to my stepfather's seemingly irrational behavior, especially during my teenage years!). While my mother insists my innocence and lack of responsibility in this unceasing war, I still have my doubts, even to this day! With my attending college in Dallas and subsequently finding employment and lodging there, my visits with my parents have been limited to holidays and a few others. Twice while visiting me in my lodgings, they attempted to launch into another war zone and I stopped it, informing them that on "my turf", warfare wouldn't be tolerated! Would I be as successful thwarting witness to future warfare by my refraining from holiday gatherings? I don't know how I have endured this long. While I do love my folks, the holidays and every visit is disruptive to what little peace I have in my life. I really want to just cancel Christmas with my folks this year and just have a quiet holiday alone (or, should I say, in a more quiet and peaceful environment!)
When I arrived at my favorite Starbucks just down the street from The Village Church, I journaled the above within the 4.25 hours' arrival time from their house. I felt spent, tired, frustrated, hopeless, emotional and lacking anything salvageable from my holiday. I just wanted to spend time with SOMEONE who wouldn't be yelling at me or someone I loved. For some reason, I felt the urging to call one of my Home Group's apprentices. After reaching him, we decided to get together after the evening worship service for coffee (later, we changed it to a quick meal of leftovers at his house BEFORE the service!).
Prior to my meal with my Home Group apprentice, I had several short but very encouraging conversations with several "heroes" and the few with whom I was close enough to share, empathised with my holiday experience.
During my quick meal of bowtie pasta and meatballs, my Home Group apprentice and I traded small talk and had a quiet meal. While it wasn't his invitation to a "homemade" meal or his personality which made the experience special, but it was his willingness to make the time for me and my humility to accept. It was the most memorable and peaceful Thanksgiving meal I had over the holiday and one I will remember and cherish always.
When I arrived at my favorite Starbucks just down the street from The Village Church, I journaled the above within the 4.25 hours' arrival time from their house. I felt spent, tired, frustrated, hopeless, emotional and lacking anything salvageable from my holiday. I just wanted to spend time with SOMEONE who wouldn't be yelling at me or someone I loved. For some reason, I felt the urging to call one of my Home Group's apprentices. After reaching him, we decided to get together after the evening worship service for coffee (later, we changed it to a quick meal of leftovers at his house BEFORE the service!).
Prior to my meal with my Home Group apprentice, I had several short but very encouraging conversations with several "heroes" and the few with whom I was close enough to share, empathised with my holiday experience.
During my quick meal of bowtie pasta and meatballs, my Home Group apprentice and I traded small talk and had a quiet meal. While it wasn't his invitation to a "homemade" meal or his personality which made the experience special, but it was his willingness to make the time for me and my humility to accept. It was the most memorable and peaceful Thanksgiving meal I had over the holiday and one I will remember and cherish always.
The heroes who live among us do not wear capes, leap tall buildings in a single bound, are not faster than a speeding locomotive or have special powers per se. They are our Christian brothers and sisters who are empowered by the Holy Spirit. They are ready and willing to help us with our hurts and tears, if we will only humble ourselves and submit to their help.
OUR heroes are closer than you think!
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 27, 2006)
My enjoyment of events
A lot of times, I will attend an event, without any foreknowledge of what to expect. And yet, there have been times when I have, somehow, left the event disappointed. How can one become disappointed without prior expectations? [Note: I will not divulge particular details of my particular event(s), as I do not desire to sully anyone's opinion of future events or those who plan and organise them.]
There have been many times in which I have gone into an event with some foreknowledge of certain activities that would occur during the event (games or contests), the type of atmosphere (elegant or relaxed), dress code (formal or casual) or the menu (catered [think: Macaroni Grill] or fast food [think: Taco Bell, pizza]). Usually, some or all of the aforementioned help me to pre-determine what to expect and thus, may pre-determine if I will enjoy myself. However, like tonight, I have only the one activity (in this case, a televised event), which has me pre-determining (or should I say, presupposing) that maybe, the event may be less than what I was expecting (incidentally, in most if not all events, I am generally looking for a time to simply fellowship with as little participation (think: competing in games or contests) as possible [Note: I'm not much of a game or competitive person.]
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 12, 2006)
There have been many times in which I have gone into an event with some foreknowledge of certain activities that would occur during the event (games or contests), the type of atmosphere (elegant or relaxed), dress code (formal or casual) or the menu (catered [think: Macaroni Grill] or fast food [think: Taco Bell, pizza]). Usually, some or all of the aforementioned help me to pre-determine what to expect and thus, may pre-determine if I will enjoy myself. However, like tonight, I have only the one activity (in this case, a televised event), which has me pre-determining (or should I say, presupposing) that maybe, the event may be less than what I was expecting (incidentally, in most if not all events, I am generally looking for a time to simply fellowship with as little participation (think: competing in games or contests) as possible [Note: I'm not much of a game or competitive person.]
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 12, 2006)
My Weekends are RELAXING!
I work hard throughout the week, preparing ocean freight invoices and having to respond to every freaking person who seems to have either lost the knowledge of and/or the ability for phone usage (other people are capable of calling for copier maintenance and our own office's facility department takes care of copy and other paper supplies!) So, when I'm not busy doing my own job responsibilities and putting out others' "fires", I survive work for 40 hours a week, then I go home and REST from all of the craziness, in the seemingly-almost-never-ending attempt to prevent my own! So . . . . .on Friday after I get off work at 4 PM, I drive home (a 45-minute drive), change into my sleeping clothes (consisting of shorts and T-shirt) and either watch a little television, surf the Web, listen to the radio or do some light, non-serious reading (trust me, after doing "serious reading" of close to 250 invoices a day, I need the break!) or little of all of the above! Usually, I stay up as late as I can stay awake, then stumble off to bed,, sleeping until I awaken naturally (compared to the daily work week alarm set for 4:30 AM!) My Saturday is spent doing what I want (watching a little television, surfing the Web, listening to the radio or doing some light, non-serious reading or a little of all of the above), relaxed in my sleeping clothes, eating when I get hungry. I usually do this all day and again on Sunday, unless I need to be someplace and even then, I am still relaxed. I feel like I have a 2.75 day Sabbath!
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 11, 2006)
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 11, 2006)
Are We Audibly Gluttonous? (self-examination)
In a message delivered by Matt Chandler,
In a recent discussion, I overheard someone suggest that they believed themselves to be audibly gluttonous, as they seemed to always have some source of sound on around them all the time (playing radio while driving car, iTunes at work, television at home). My question goes a little deeper: Are we all audibly gluttonous or are we just incredibly lonely?
I know that for me, l too drive with a radio or iPod playing, work while listening to either sermons or podcasts (again, via iPod) and drive home with the radio, and either playing the radio or listening to the television or watching forensic dramas (like CSI's) once I arrive home. When I get home, there is no one there to greet me. I have no wife or roommate, so most of the time, its just me, God, and my music or television. So, is that gluttony or just plain 'ole lonelness? Whatdayathink?
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 11, 2006)
". . . Bernie Krause records nature sounds for television and film. Let me try to explain it to you like this – "Dancing with Wolves", a great movie – it would lose its mystique if all of a sudden in the middle of the movie you'd hear a 747 buzzing overhead. So in order to get natural sound this guy takes his gear into the woods, and he records natural sound and then edits it into pure natural sounds. No airplanes, no cars, no gunshots, no bells, no whistles, just the sound of natural undefiled, and then he sells that to those who do films and movies. And it was really an intriguing article. He said in 1968 that in order to get one hour of undefiled natural sound, it took him 15 hours of recording. So, this guy goes into the woods and sits there for 15 hours and records, takes those 15 hours backs to his studio, and cuts, and pastes, and splices, to get one hour of pure, undefiled sound. Miserable job if you ask me. I mean he's literally listening to 15 hours of crickets and wind. I guarantee you he has a coffee problem, alright? I mean it. Now, in 1968, it took him 15 hours. This article was written in 2003, and in that year, he said to get that same one hour of undefiled sound, it took him 2000 hours of recording. Can you say "lonely"? "I'll be home next month baby." Two-thousand hours. Wading through 2000 hours of nature to get one. And I wish the article was longer because I don't fully understand the process. I mean, if you have your tape from 1968, why are you trying to make a new one since nature always sounds like nature. It sounds like a good consultant could save this guy a lot of trouble, right? I'd tell him, "Use the '68 tape man" but apparently they were going for the '03 version, and it took him 2000 hours of recording.
"The article was really about noise, about how much noise we're subjected to in our culture and in our day. And the article said that everyday, 183 million people are exposed to what the EPA (The Environmental Protection Agency) would deem as excessive or harmful. In fact, we just did it to you a few minutes ago with the music, didn't we? We just did it. Everyday, 183 million people are around noise levels that the EPA would call excessive if not dangerous. And so I started trying to think through, really how noisy life is. Let's just do this. How many of you have cell phones? Let's do it this way. How many of you are over the age of twelve and don't have a cell phone? Out of 2200 adults here, that brings the grand total of you to 11 who don't have cell phones. And the funny thing is that statistically that's the same number as those in the nursery. Even kids have cell phones today. It's amazing. Ok, so we all have cell phones. And the big question is – which one of yours will ring while I'm preaching? They always do. How many of you have emails addresses? Two email addresses? Anyone have that third one, just in case? Yeah! And we could keep going. How many of you have wireless internet on your computer? Of course you do! You have to check your email when you're driving since you have three accounts. When else are you going to check them? Right there in the car – you have to. MP3 players? Ipods? Ok, watch this one. How about televisions? Two televisions? Television in the bathroom? Come on! Don't defile the most sacred of hours. Give yourself a moment of peace! TIVO, get TIVO. I don't even get it. It's just weird to me. TV in the car for the kids? Yup. At work or while you're studying – music always going on in the background or the radio?" (Source: "Rhythm: Part 2", The Village Church, 10-09-2005, Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor)
In a recent discussion, I overheard someone suggest that they believed themselves to be audibly gluttonous, as they seemed to always have some source of sound on around them all the time (playing radio while driving car, iTunes at work, television at home). My question goes a little deeper: Are we all audibly gluttonous or are we just incredibly lonely?
I know that for me, l too drive with a radio or iPod playing, work while listening to either sermons or podcasts (again, via iPod) and drive home with the radio, and either playing the radio or listening to the television or watching forensic dramas (like CSI's) once I arrive home. When I get home, there is no one there to greet me. I have no wife or roommate, so most of the time, its just me, God, and my music or television. So, is that gluttony or just plain 'ole lonelness? Whatdayathink?
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 11, 2006)
Gluttony - Part I (self-study)
BEFORE THE SERMON
my first question was, "What does Psalm 78:17-32 have to do with gluttony? Then, I read the entire chapter of Psalm 78 to get a better, contextual view and then I found some interesting viewpoints which I would like to share with you.
According to www.dictionary.com, gluttony is defined as "excessive eating and drinking, habitual eating to excess". In that same link's thesaurus section, gluttony is also associated with debauchery, greed, hunger, license and pleasure.
I remembered from the movie, "Se7en", there was a scene where the two police detectives discovered a man who was forced to eat himself to death at gunpoint. Here's the description given by Detective Somerset:
"He ate his fill, and was forced to continue eating . . . till his body rejected the food, the killer held a bucket under him, and then kept serving. He took his time. The coroner says this might have gone on for more than twelve hours. The victim's throat was swollen from the effort, and there was probably a point where he passed out. That's when (sic) killer kicked him in the stomach. Popped him." (Source: http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/seven_production.html)
Another scene comes to mind from an episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation". In their sixth season, an episode entitled "Dog Eats Dog" portrays the death of a man who literally ate himself to death due to Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare gentic (sic) disorder that causes ceaseless, uncontrollable excruciating hunger. It's as if your stomach was truly a bottomless pit . . . . . Sufferers are born with a flawed hypothalamus. Normal hypothalamus receives a signal from the stomach – "I'm full, stop eating." (Source: http://twiztv.com/scripts/csi/season6/csi-609.txt) But obviously, I believe that we can assume that the Scriptures are not referring to forced eating or a rare genetic disease.
I know that for me, I keep being reminded, by God through His Word and my closest Christian brothers, that I need to be less self-reliant, self-dependent (a.k.a. independent) and more dependent on Him. Just as God was constantly reminding the Israelites of His love for them and concern for their safety, I am also constantly reminded of His same love and concern for me!
Instead of being gluttonous toward self-reliance and independence of Him, I need to instead be gluttonous of His love and concern for me!
AFTER THE SERMON (What Pastor Paul Matthies said!)
Link to listen to the sermon soon!
Read Ezekiel 16:49
*We as Americans are guilty of pride, excess of food and prosperous of
ease.
*Food and gluttony is not an external issue
*A glutton is someone who loves himself too much!
A Biblical defintion of gluttony is "a lack of faith in God expressing itself through excess and expects total satisfaction from idols of choice at the expense of community, responsibility and trusting worship of God".
Several misconceptions about gluttony:
1. Gluttony is just overeating
Numbers 29:12 – God commands feasting
Matthew 11; 22; Revelation 19 – examples of feasting
Israel feasted at appointed times; moderation vs. excess
They feasted in community, not in isolation
Gluttony isolates us from others
Gluttony doesn't provide love and acceptance
2. Only overweight people are gluttonous and underweight people are
non-gluttonous.
Proverbs 23:19-21
*Slothfulness, laziness and irresponsibility
*Lust, convetousness, anger, gossip, other sins
*Losing weight doesn't bring happiness, just healthiness!
3. Enjoying food is sinful
*Food is not intrinsically sinful!
1 Corinthians 10:31; 8:8
Romans 14:23 "Eating is not from faith"!
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 – Eating apart from God!
Phillipians 3:19; John 6:26, 35-36
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 6, 2006)
OBSERVATION
When reading Psalm 78, I remembered the Israelites forty year wandering in the wilderness, documented throughout Exodus. I also noticed the following terms: "Give ear..." (v. 1); "...to teach to their children..." (v. 5); "...and arise and tell them to their children..."(v. 7); "...not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments..." (v. 7); "...full of wrath..." (v. 21); "...did not trust his saving power." (v. 22). However, my mind focussed on the last term, "...did not trust his saving power." (v. 22), which will be a personal focus for me.
My theory is that the Israelites were not so much suffering from a physical over-hunger for food but an innate sin-struggle of distrust in God's taking care of them physically and spiritually. There seems to be a constant and consistent forgetfulness on the part of the Israelites, following by a constant and consistent reminder from God that He loved them and would take care of them.
INTERPRETATION
Initially after reading the passage and the following email letter:
"October has now come and gone. Halloween is over. But November is here. And that means an even richer holiday is right around the corner... Thanksgiving! As we prepare to enjoy the coming holiday season, we are called to think about the biblical picture of a community of believers who, after a hard day's work, are feasting together and enjoying great food while telling each other of the great things of God.
"But too often, we are faced with the American reality of the isolated individual who, after ordering fast food in the drive-thru, crams down a meal and rushes home to watch TV and indulge self.
"For the next few weeks, we will be discussing a commonly accepted sin in our culture: the sin of gluttony. We will start by asking, what exactly is gluttony? When and how does food become an idol? Before this weekend:
* Read Psalm 78:17-32.
* Consider: How were Israel's excessive food cravings a
reflection of their lack of trust in God?"
reflection of their lack of trust in God?"
my first question was, "What does Psalm 78:17-32 have to do with gluttony? Then, I read the entire chapter of Psalm 78 to get a better, contextual view and then I found some interesting viewpoints which I would like to share with you.
According to www.dictionary.com, gluttony is defined as "excessive eating and drinking, habitual eating to excess". In that same link's thesaurus section, gluttony is also associated with debauchery, greed, hunger, license and pleasure.
I remembered from the movie, "Se7en", there was a scene where the two police detectives discovered a man who was forced to eat himself to death at gunpoint. Here's the description given by Detective Somerset:
"He ate his fill, and was forced to continue eating . . . till his body rejected the food, the killer held a bucket under him, and then kept serving. He took his time. The coroner says this might have gone on for more than twelve hours. The victim's throat was swollen from the effort, and there was probably a point where he passed out. That's when (sic) killer kicked him in the stomach. Popped him." (Source: http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/seven_production.html)
Another scene comes to mind from an episode of "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation". In their sixth season, an episode entitled "Dog Eats Dog" portrays the death of a man who literally ate himself to death due to Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare gentic (sic) disorder that causes ceaseless, uncontrollable excruciating hunger. It's as if your stomach was truly a bottomless pit . . . . . Sufferers are born with a flawed hypothalamus. Normal hypothalamus receives a signal from the stomach – "I'm full, stop eating." (Source: http://twiztv.com/scripts/csi/season6/csi-609.txt) But obviously, I believe that we can assume that the Scriptures are not referring to forced eating or a rare genetic disease.
I know that for me, I keep being reminded, by God through His Word and my closest Christian brothers, that I need to be less self-reliant, self-dependent (a.k.a. independent) and more dependent on Him. Just as God was constantly reminding the Israelites of His love for them and concern for their safety, I am also constantly reminded of His same love and concern for me!
Instead of being gluttonous toward self-reliance and independence of Him, I need to instead be gluttonous of His love and concern for me!
AFTER THE SERMON (What Pastor Paul Matthies said!)
Link to listen to the sermon soon!
Read Ezekiel 16:49
*We as Americans are guilty of pride, excess of food and prosperous of
ease.
*Food and gluttony is not an external issue
*A glutton is someone who loves himself too much!
A Biblical defintion of gluttony is "a lack of faith in God expressing itself through excess and expects total satisfaction from idols of choice at the expense of community, responsibility and trusting worship of God".
Several misconceptions about gluttony:
1. Gluttony is just overeating
Numbers 29:12 – God commands feasting
Matthew 11; 22; Revelation 19 – examples of feasting
Israel feasted at appointed times; moderation vs. excess
They feasted in community, not in isolation
Gluttony isolates us from others
Gluttony doesn't provide love and acceptance
2. Only overweight people are gluttonous and underweight people are
non-gluttonous.
Proverbs 23:19-21
*Slothfulness, laziness and irresponsibility
*Lust, convetousness, anger, gossip, other sins
*Losing weight doesn't bring happiness, just healthiness!
3. Enjoying food is sinful
*Food is not intrinsically sinful!
1 Corinthians 10:31; 8:8
Romans 14:23 "Eating is not from faith"!
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 – Eating apart from God!
*Eating is a sign of rebellion
*Eating is a means of control
*Failure to give thanks to God
Genesis 3:6; Numbers 11; Psalm 78:17-32; Genesis 25:29-34; Phillipians 3:19; John 6:26, 35-36
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 6, 2006)
BEWARE of deceptive advertising!
I just returned from Central Kia in Plano after attempting to buy the Kia Rio for 5,888.00 as advertised on the radio and television. What a surprise! The reality is that the car is actually ~$11,000, with $1,000.00 off if the customer has previously owned a Kia, then other reductions. Additionally, the 2006 Rio has NO A/C, has manual transmission and NO power locks or windows! In other words, VERY deceptive! So, buyer BEWARE!
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 4, 2006)
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 on November 4, 2006)
There but for the GRACE of God go I
I had an (ahem) interesting conversation with a brother of mine recently which turned quite emotionally violent for him and mentally and emotionally violent for me. Let me explain as best as my memory can serve.
Now (after having consulted another good friend of mine who is a Romans freak!), my answer isn't so incredibly wrong, as long as I know that reading my Bible and prayer is not in itself my sole source of my salvation (yes, I knew that). Unfortunately, my brother with whom I had a 1.5 hour heated, malicious, angry, frustrating, emotionally and mentally draining conversation afterwards over dinner and afterwards, well, let's just say, it got to a point that my salvation was questioned and I've been left with questions of returning to my Home Group or finding another. I spent a few minutes searching my church's homepage in an attempt to find another Home Group, I was so disturbed!
That night, I tried to explain (repeatedly, but unsuccessfully) that I was "working on and trying" to understand grace. However, every time I used the words "working" or "trying" or any verb in attempts to describe my attempts to learn more and understand grace, well, it was like attempting to put out a forest fire with gasoline! Needless to say, we haven't spoken since Thursday night.
I went home Thursday night, completely depleted emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Here was a brother (an apprentice of our Home Group!) who I thought loved me, who had just spent 1.5 hours furiously and vehemently telling me that grace wasn't something that should be worked toward (I knew and understood that!) or "tried" to be understood because then, it wouldn't be grace! (Yeah, duh!) I went to bed and had trouble sleeping. I was reminded of so many similar conversations I had had during my years with the International Church of Christ (a religious cult!) and the demeaning arguments and mindgames that they had plagued me with. I felt belittled, ashamed, dumber-than-dirt and unloved. Somehow, I fell asleep and awoke unrefreshed and with similar thoughts.
Friday was spent at work in an almost daze, with the same doubting cobwebs from the night before. I would've called my Home Group leader, but he had mentioned he had family in town and was in the process of moving, so I didn't want to disturb him with this. (I have emailed him that I needed to speak with him and have set up a phone call for Sunday afternoon!).
Thankfully, after consulting with my Romans friend, I feel somewhat better and very relieved (thank God for Chris H!). Chris told me that my answer was innocent and shouldn't have sparked such a flame. Now, I look forward to the phone call I have with my Home Group leader. Will I change Home Groups? I don't know but I do know a few more things:
*I won't allow myself to be placed in a similar situation as Thursday night.
*I will refrain from answering such questions dealing with my own faith re grace.
I have learned that it's okay to "work" through my faith, which, of course, includes grace. Will I ever completely understand grace? No, and I don't think anyone human has that capability either!
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 Blog on October 28, 2006)
During my Home Group time, the question asked was something along the line of, "What does it mean to surrender all and live righteously at work and at home?"
My answer for work was to work as if working for the Master, as quoted in Ephesians 6:5-7 (ESV):
"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eyeservice, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man".
When asked about what surrendering all meant for outside of work, that's when I made what seemed to this particular brother a MONUMENTAL and MAJOR mistake: I answered wrongly with the words, "Well, at home, I try to read my Bible and pray on a regular basis."Now (after having consulted another good friend of mine who is a Romans freak!), my answer isn't so incredibly wrong, as long as I know that reading my Bible and prayer is not in itself my sole source of my salvation (yes, I knew that). Unfortunately, my brother with whom I had a 1.5 hour heated, malicious, angry, frustrating, emotionally and mentally draining conversation afterwards over dinner and afterwards, well, let's just say, it got to a point that my salvation was questioned and I've been left with questions of returning to my Home Group or finding another. I spent a few minutes searching my church's homepage in an attempt to find another Home Group, I was so disturbed!
That night, I tried to explain (repeatedly, but unsuccessfully) that I was "working on and trying" to understand grace. However, every time I used the words "working" or "trying" or any verb in attempts to describe my attempts to learn more and understand grace, well, it was like attempting to put out a forest fire with gasoline! Needless to say, we haven't spoken since Thursday night.
I went home Thursday night, completely depleted emotionally, spiritually and mentally. Here was a brother (an apprentice of our Home Group!) who I thought loved me, who had just spent 1.5 hours furiously and vehemently telling me that grace wasn't something that should be worked toward (I knew and understood that!) or "tried" to be understood because then, it wouldn't be grace! (Yeah, duh!) I went to bed and had trouble sleeping. I was reminded of so many similar conversations I had had during my years with the International Church of Christ (a religious cult!) and the demeaning arguments and mindgames that they had plagued me with. I felt belittled, ashamed, dumber-than-dirt and unloved. Somehow, I fell asleep and awoke unrefreshed and with similar thoughts.
Friday was spent at work in an almost daze, with the same doubting cobwebs from the night before. I would've called my Home Group leader, but he had mentioned he had family in town and was in the process of moving, so I didn't want to disturb him with this. (I have emailed him that I needed to speak with him and have set up a phone call for Sunday afternoon!).
Thankfully, after consulting with my Romans friend, I feel somewhat better and very relieved (thank God for Chris H!). Chris told me that my answer was innocent and shouldn't have sparked such a flame. Now, I look forward to the phone call I have with my Home Group leader. Will I change Home Groups? I don't know but I do know a few more things:
*I won't allow myself to be placed in a similar situation as Thursday night.
*I will refrain from answering such questions dealing with my own faith re grace.
I have learned that it's okay to "work" through my faith, which, of course, includes grace. Will I ever completely understand grace? No, and I don't think anyone human has that capability either!
(Originally posted on www.myspace.com/jkirton2 Blog on October 28, 2006)
The H.E.A.R.T. of a Home Group Leader
A Home Group consists of many elements: members willing to be open, vulnerable and transparent with their lives and struggles. but just as imortant as its members is its leader and their apprentice(s) whom they lead. At this time, I would like to lift up my Home Group leader and the H.E.A.R.T. he has demonstrated since his leadership began. To prevent him from becoming prideful or embarrassed, I will not provide his name or which Home Group, although if you know me well, you'll know to which Home Group I am referring. First, I would like to lift up my leader's Humility in how he leads by example. His sharing from his own personal life experiences and struggles helps us relate to him and each other, making it easier to share from our own experiences. Another way he demonstrates humility is listening without interruption or already having prepared what he is going to say next.
Secondly, he is Encouraging in his words and gentleness. He also demonstrates gentleness and kindness is his demeanor.
Thirdly, my Home Group leader is one who is able to hold me Accountable. During the brief time in which has has been my accountability partner, he has been very instrumental in helping me see the areas in my life where I need the most help.
Another aspect of my Home Group leader is his being Respectful. Despite the fact that I am older in biological age, in the times when he has had to confront me or help me see my weaknesses, he has always done so respectfully and gently with his words.
Lastly, Truthfulness has been evidenced in his relatability in sharing his testimony and his answers to difficult inquiries about his life and instruction.
As you can see, from the above acronym, my leader has the H.E.A.R.T. of what it takes to be a Godly, Christ-like leader. Praise the Lord for His leading him to our Home Group. May God continue to bless him in his job and walk with Christ.
(Originally posted at www.myspace.com/jkirton2 Blog on October 1, 2006)
Secondly, he is Encouraging in his words and gentleness. He also demonstrates gentleness and kindness is his demeanor.
Thirdly, my Home Group leader is one who is able to hold me Accountable. During the brief time in which has has been my accountability partner, he has been very instrumental in helping me see the areas in my life where I need the most help.
Another aspect of my Home Group leader is his being Respectful. Despite the fact that I am older in biological age, in the times when he has had to confront me or help me see my weaknesses, he has always done so respectfully and gently with his words.
Lastly, Truthfulness has been evidenced in his relatability in sharing his testimony and his answers to difficult inquiries about his life and instruction.
As you can see, from the above acronym, my leader has the H.E.A.R.T. of what it takes to be a Godly, Christ-like leader. Praise the Lord for His leading him to our Home Group. May God continue to bless him in his job and walk with Christ.
(Originally posted at www.myspace.com/jkirton2 Blog on October 1, 2006)
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